Heat protector roof construction for vehicles



FEB. 24, 1953 w T N 2,629,347

HEAT PROTECTOR ROOF CONSTRUCTION FOR VEHICLES Filed June 3, 1950 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEAT PROTECTOR ROOF CONSTRUCTION FOR VEHICLES 1 Claim. 1

My invention relates to a roof construction for an automobile, and more particularly to a vehicle overhead which is ventilated between roof and ceiling and preferably insulated for the purpose of keeping the interior cool.

It is most uncomfortable to enter a closed automobile which has been allowed to stand in the warm sunshine, and of equal inconvenience is the overheating which occurs in an automobile, truck, railway car, or a boat moving slowly during a hot, sunny day.

Accordingly, it is among the objects of my invention to provide a roof construction for vehicles which will prevent this inordinate heating. Another object is to provide a heat protector roof which is relatively inexpensive, sturdy, durable and attractively incorporated into the design of a modern vehicle. A further object is to provide an accessory to prevent overheating which conveniently may be attached to the roof of an automobile and the like when needed, and easily removed When its use is not required. A still further object is to provide such an accessory which is insulated against the passage of heat, and which permits ventilation of an air compartment above the roof. Another object is to provide a roof construction which employs the aforementioned cooling features, but which is built as an integral part of the vehicle during manufacture. It is an object in another embodiment of my invention to provide forced-draft ventilation in the air compartment between ceiling and roof of the abovementioned constructions. These and other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out in the disclosure which follows.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and relation and order of each of the same to one or more of the others, all as will be illustratively described herein, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claim.

In the drawings wherein there is shown one embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the top body portion of an automobile showing a heat protector roof attached thereo;

Figure 2 is a section taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged section taken along line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 showing an alternate construction;

Figure 5 is a section taken along line 5--5 of Figure 4; t

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the top body portion of an automobile having a built-in heat protector roof equipped with a suction fan; and,

Figure '7 is a view taken along line 1-! of Figure 6.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawmg.

In accordance with one embodiment of my invention, a dome-like heat protector roof accessory is removably attached to the turret top of an automobile and has resilient mountings to maintain the desired spacing for an air compartment above the top, while a plurality of straps along the periphery clamp to the rain gutter of the car to hold the accessory firmly in place. The front edge of the accessory preferably fits against the top along a line above the windshield and may be provided with a rubber stripping for tight sealing and to prevent marring of the top, and at least a portion of the rear edge rests on the top in like manner, but both longitudinal edges lie above to leave openings along the sides for circulation of air through the air compartment between roof and top. The heat protector roof is preferably insulated against heat, as by a laminated metal and asbestos construction, to maintain a temperature gradient as high as possible.

This accessory is lightweight and conveniently attaches to a vehicle when needed, and it is highly effective in keeping the interior of the body cool when the hot sun is beating down, its insulation resists excessive heat and open sides permit convection of cooler currents of air. Thus, even while standing with windows closed, an automobile equipped with my heat protector roof remains relatively cool, as tests indicate that a difierence up to 35 F. results in the inside temperature with my heat protector roof, as com pared with identical conditions without the roof. With windows open the automobile naturally remains considerably cooler inside, but even then a temperature advantage in the order of 15 F. is gained by attaching an insulated heat protector roof. When the automobile is in motion there is, of course, a heavy passage of air between the roof accessory and top, but by employing my design for attachment and strapping and by sealing the front edge, no vibration or disturbance takes place even at high speeds. There is thus provided a convenient, inexpensive and effective attachment to prevent overheating of the interior of an automobile by intense sunshine.

In another embodiment of my invention a heat protector roof functioning the same as the one just described is designed for permanent attachment to an automobile. Resilient spacers are used as before with bolts extending through the core and fastening to the top rib of the automobile frame. The front and rear edges preferably rest against the top as before, but the longitudinal sides instead of extending straight back have saddle portions which project into the rain gutter where they are secured to the top as by screws. Such construction provides a low, dome roof of the same general contour as the automobile top so that the over-all design is not materially altered, and slit-like openings remain along each side for circulation of air. The invention may therefore serve as an automobile accessory to be attached when needed, or become a permanent addition thereto.

A third embodiment is a structure which has the cooling features above set forth, but which is an integral part of the body by manufacturing the automobile frame with an insulated metal dome roof and an interior ceiling spaced therebelow. Openings for ventilation are disposed along each side and at the rear of the roof, and an electric suction fan is mounted in the air compartment between roof and ceiling to provide eifective forced-draft and resulting inhibition of overheating inside of the car. The fan is mounted in the center with the blade revolving 39 in a horizontal plane above its motor and curved to direct air downwardly. A louvre system across the ceiling opening for the fan lends direction to channel air currents in predetermined paths in and out of the automobile, such that warm is directed from the underside of the ceiling surface and out of the space between ceiling and roof. The use of this fan causes the automobile to remain far cooler while standing, but a slidable partition may be provided to cover the ceil ing opening when the fan is not in use, as when the car is in motion or the ambient temperature is low. My invention therefore can be embodied in an accessory, or it can compose a fixed part of either an old or a new automobile and have provision for forced air circulation.

Referring now to the drawings, in Figure 1 the top body portion If] of a conventional automobile is shown with a heat protector roof i2 mounted and resting on metal top i l. Roof l2 follows the general contour of top M and is spaced therefrom by a plurality of resilient mountings, such as rubber spacers it, that are conveniently located away from the edges as shown by Figure 3, but for added tenacity and to prevent warping of roof l2, spacers l5 may be in the form of suction cups. Front edge l8 of roof l2 preferably rests firmly against roof i l near the upper part of windshield 20 and may be provided with a soft rubber edge (not shown) to perfect an air seal and to prevent marring. Rear edge 22 may have a similar close fit, though openings may be provided along this line, for more circulation if desired. Each side 24 of roof l2 leaves an opening above top l4, however, so that proper circulation of air can take place (Figure 2). This design and construction causes roof IE to blend with the streamlin ing of the vehicle, and by having edges 24 extend over the side into rain gutters 2 5, proper drainage of rain water is provided, while the infiltration of foreign matter between roof i2 and top His inhibited almost entirely by front edge [8 being closed.

Roof. I2; issecurelyv attached to top. l4. bya 75 plurality of straps 28, the detailed construction of which is shown in Figure 3 where, illustratively, a rubber strap 28 extends through and is fastened to an opening 38 in roof l2, and is provided with a hook 32 which attaches under rain gutter 26 when strap '28 is stretched, as by a suitable hand tool (not shown). In this way, edge 24 of roof i2 is held in place along a line parallel to and slightly above rain gutter 26, and roof I2 is forced downwardly to place spacers it under slight compression and accordingly cause firm attachment.

Also illustrated in Figure 3 is the laminated construction of roof l2 with metal sheeting 34 forming the exposed side and an insulated lining 36, e. g. asbestos, lying underneath to inhibit conduction of heat through the roof. Cooling results'both from ventilating the space above top H?- and in avoiding overheating by using an insulated heat protector roof.

A second embodiment of my invention, shown in Figure 4, is designed for permanent installation on an automobile. A heat protector roof lZa, substantially identical to the one above described, fits over top i i-a. in spaced relationship with spacers liia therebetween, and front edge 18a fitting tightly above windshield 20a of automobile l-ia; but sides 2 1a, instead of running parallel to rain gutter 25a throughout their length, are provided with a plurality of'saddles 38 extending downwardly into rain gutter 26a where they are secured to top Ma as by screws M3. Rear edge 22a may be open for a portion, but is provided with a soft rubber strip 62 where it rests against the automobile body. Instead of being ordinary suction cups, spacers Ilia have bolts 44 passing through their centers and attaching to ribs 46 in the frame of automobile Illa (Figure 5) such that when installed, heat protector roof [2a is a permanent part of the vehicle. Ventilating air is free to pass through openings 43 along the sides between saddles 38 and through the opening left below rear edge 22a, and preferably roof [2a. is insulated in the fashion shown in Figure 3.

In still another embodiment of my invention, a heat protector roof i219 is built in at the factory as an integral part of automobile Nib (Figure 6). Here the heat protector roof serves not only the cooling purposes above described for roofs l2 and Ilia, but it is also the strong metal top of the automobile. A ceiling 54' (Figure 7) is spaced below roof E22; and defines an air compartment as before. Openings 6% are disposed on each side above rain gutter 25b, and saddle portions 38b project into the automobile frame for support. No opening is provided along the front so that dust and foreign matter will be kept free from the compartment between roof H2) and ceiling 5 3, buta passageway 55 is provided at the rear for air. For additional ventilation, a circulating fan 52 is mounted above ceiling 54 (Figure 7), with blade 56 positioned above the motor and curved to direct air downwardly. Fan 52 is protected by a dome-shaped screen 58, and a louvre system extends over opening 62 in ceiling 54 to control the flow of air through both the space above the ceiling and throughout the inside of the automobile. The louvre system comprises a substantially fiat central plate 62, a circular downwardly diverging portion 84, and a peripheral ring 66 which is V-shaped in cross section, as shown in Figure 7. This louvre system controls the air currents set up by fan 52 so that flow is inwardly toward the fan, both from along the underside of ceiling'fi i'and-in the void space'be tween ceiling 54 and roof I21), as illustrated by the arrows. Downward flow of air is restricted to the openings between louvre sections 62 and 64, and 64 and 66, and the respective sections are shaped so that interference is avoided between the intake side and the exhaust side of the fan, as the arrows indicate.

Though a ventilating fan, as above described, is not essential to eiTective prevention of overheating inside the vehicle, it has been found very convenient and comforting to use a fan, particularly when the vehicle is not moving. A rapid exchange of warm air for 0001 can thus be effected in the space above the ceiling so that if the car windows are kept open slightly, the inside of the automobile will at all times remain remarkably cool, to the pleasure of the passengers. A cover 88, shown in broken lines in Figure 7, may be used to close opening 60 when fan 52 is not in use.

Thus by simple and economical structure according to my invention, the interior of a vehicle may be protected from the heat of the sun. The invention is suitably incorporated either into a removable accessory, or as a device for permanent installation, or alternately, the body of the vehicle may be manufactured to include these same features.

Since many possible embodiments may be made of mechanical features of the above invention, and since the art herein described may be varied in various parts, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

An accessory for a vehicle roof, which roof has sloping sides with rain gutters extending longitudinally along opposite edges, said accessory comprising a rigid metallic body portion having a contour generally similar to that of said roof so as to fit thereover between said rain gutters, said body portion having its leading edge formed to fit flush against said roof and portions of its sides formed to extend into said gutters and also having portions along its sides cut away to form air vents along its sides above said gutters and between said portions that extend into said gutters, insulating material fastened to the undersurface of said body portion, and means for releasably attaching said body portion to said roof, there being a space between said roof and said insulating material when said body portion is attached to said roof.

HERBERT P. WITTRIEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 778,620 Wylie Dec. 27, 1904 1,530,540 Boufiier Mar. 24, 1925 2,087,651 Mygland July 20, 1937 2,202,703 Lintern May 28, 1940 2,479,825 Fleischhauer Aug. 23, 1949 2,496,085 Engelhart Jan. 31, 1950 2,508,757 Gray May 23, 1950 2,602,406 Orter July 8, 1952 

